Water From the Rock

 The People of Israel were always thirsty, and they would, in their thirst approach Moses often with great complaints upon their lips

Water From the Rock

The people always had a need, and even with the presence of the Lord in their midst they would doubt and cry out. In the Book of Exodus we find the people of Israel in the wilderness camped at Rephidim again coming to Moses and quarreled with him.


"They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”

Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”Exodus:17:1-3

 Moses then calls out to God.
"Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”Exodus:17:4

Strike the Rock

God tells Moses to take the rod that he struck the Nile river with, and tells him to strike the rock so that water would come forth and quench the longing the people had.

"The Lord answered Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus:17:5-7

^{Thirsty Again}

In Numbers:20: 1-5 we see this thirst arise again in the people. God again directs Moses to go to the rock, but instead of striking it, he was to only speak to it in order that the life giving water would pour forth. But this time in his frustration with the people, Moses does not follow God's command to just speak, but rather he strikes the rock two times, yet, still God responds in the sight of the people. It was not necessary to strike  the rock, that had already been done.

The Rock Already Struck

When we read the Holy Bible through the view that all Scriptures speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ we see so much more then just a historical miracle in the life of the people of Israel, we see the glorious operation of the great God in His Son Jesus. The Rock was our Lord Jesus Christ. The thirst of Israel speaks of the longing that we all carry with in us the need for life that must come from out side our selves, we can not quench our own thirst.

"And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." 1Corinthians:10:4

Jesus is that One Who was struck for us, that the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit might quench the great thirst we all have.

 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.Isaiah:53:4-5

This is what Jesus did for us, He was struck, smitten for us. This was only needful to happen one time such was the magnitude of the offering that our Lord gave. It was not necessary for Jesus to die but once.

"The death he died, he died to sin once for all" Romans:6:10

"For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" 1Peter:3:18

"so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people;" Hebrews:9:28 

The Cross of Jesus was sufficient, nothing more need be done that the life found in the Holy Spirit pour forth to each who but will free accept it. 

 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit" John:19:30

It is finished on our behalf by Jesus. 

 Blood & Water Came Forth

Evan there upon the cross, being dead our Lord continues to show forth the salvation He has finished for each of us , as His side is pierced and blood and water ,come forth , each of these are powerful Biblical and cultural symbols for life. Jesus gave His life that we might have life, that the Holy Spirit might pour out upon us.

" For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life." Leviticus:17:11

The Blood of Jesus shows us His life being poured forth, the value of the blood is found in the life that it maintains; the blood of Jesus maintained the life of God in the flesh, therefore His blood is of more value than the sum total of all humanity. 

 "because he has poured out his life unto death:" Isaiah:53:12

The Death of Jesus makes possible the out pouring of the Holy Spirit  that we see in the Book of Acts. This is the water of life that we might share in and never thirst again.

"But whosoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life" .John:4:14

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified^" John:7:37-39

Speak to the Rock

Moses was told to speak to the Rock looks to the place that our Lord now has as the One Whom we may approach to secure what help we might have, He is now risen and in the high places of Heaven there as our High Priest waiting for us but to just speak to Him; and to issue forth to us that water of life in any and all endeavors of the life and in our times of need , when we thirst for help and long for His grace.

"For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence" Hebrews:9:24

"Inasmuch, then, as we have in Jesus, the Son of God, a great High Priest who has passed into Heaven itself, let us hold firmly to our profession of faith." Hebrews:4:14

"Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our times of need." Hebrews:4:16

We can come to Him at any moment when ever we are driven by a need. All we need do is speak to the Rock, we do not have strike it , it has been done. This should flow out to the people of God galdening our hearts.
"There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High" Psalm:46:4

This water will, in the eternity to come , flow forth to all who thirsts.Whosoever will but ask.

"how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"Luke:11:13

"And he shewed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Revelation:22:1-2

This , water of life will flow to all who will but freely drink of it, it is ours because our Lord Jesus, that Rock of Salvation,  was struck for each of us. Eternal  life , this is the water from the Rock...Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 AM in Washington, Pa.and 1710 AM in Bentleyville , Pa. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com 

The Epiphany:Laying it All at His Feet

 The Epiphany: This is  a traditional Christian observance on January 6th  that speaks of the coming of the "wise men" to see Jesus Christ at Bethlehem.

This observance is, aside from the commemoration of the resurrection , the oldest Christian "feast".
It is commonly found in more liturgical Christan bodies. The word  Epiphany in the Koine Greek is ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, "manifestation", " "appearance" . Epiphany or sometimes referred to as the “Theophany”.

 In the Ancient church The Epiphany commemorated three separate occurrences’ the visit of the Magi,

The baptism of Jesus and the miracle at  Cana- over the years in the western church tradition the emphases has shifted more to the view toward the visits of the Magi-Each of theses was a type of "Epiphany" of its own.

The Magi saw his star in the east and came to where He was. 

There has  always  been a lot of conjecture as to the events and what took place  at the birth of Jesus-and the time right after – most of those thing are secondary or  of no importance, what is important is that He came to reveal  God to us, to be "God with us".

The early Church understood that Jesus' coming was the appearance of God in the flesh, that Jesus was not just a bringer of a new philosophy  but rather He was the very creator of all things having entered His own creation and joined us to Himself.         

 

 "and the Word became Flesh and lived among us" John:1:14

The Magi

Many often wonder who these visitors were and from whence did they come, it is also probable that their arrival was most likely up to two years after Jesus' actual birth. in many ways it does not matter, the real point was, and is ,that they came when God got their attention,  and drew them there to that  place  in Bethlehem where they had an encounter with the Lord Jesus .And  they came bringing what they could to honor Him, they brought it all to Him laying it all at Jesus' feet and worshiped Him; the gifts were only symbolic of the transformation that happens when we come to Jesus. Jesus is the real point.

 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”Matthew:2:1-2

"where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”Matthew:2:5-6

"they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Matthew:2:9-11

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace":Isaiah:9:6

Matthew's account tells of their search for the "King of Jews".  God had gotten their attention and they responded. What most do not realize is, that all of us are looking for Jesus, and in His providence God will send us a star to get our attention

Incarnation

God , in the person of His Son Jesus, took on our humanity. He became one of us, limited Himself never using His deity for His own advantage in Jesus all of God is seen. That is, He is Incarnate, this is what the Magi found, there, two thousand years ago,  in that out-of-way place; and what we can still find today. Our search for a life of meaning is ended when we come to Bethlehem, that is, that  place where  we find Jesus.

"For in him dwells  all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" Colissians:2:9

This self disclose of the great God in Jesus , is  ongoing . His humanity makes this possible and allows us to have  a relationship with the Great God.

They Respond

For those who see His star, and follow it to that place where Jesus is,  their search is over. When we come to believe in Jesus we accomplish everything that our lives were ever intended to accomplish, we all were  literally  created and born to believe in Jesus.  Remember the Magi came from afar off, they were willing to come even great distances . It was worth the journey, but this journey to Bethlehem would not have occurred had they not responded to the star that God had sent.

When they arrived there at that place, where the star directed them they came and presented to Him their gifts and worshiped Him.  Matthew:2:9-11

Their Gifts

The gifts given are powerful symbols for us, with much meaning.

Gold- The recourses of their lives, all they had for Him as our King.

Incenses- Their worship as their recognition of Who He is, the Great God incarnate and our High Priest.

Myrrh-The laying down of their lives,in recognition that He would lay down His own life in death for all. , and embracing His death for us and the death of  the old self.

  

 All Things Forever

They knew that their lives could never be the same and  that all human history would be changed

now that He has come.They knew that this young child would be the One Who would change all things forever. So here they were "great men" and they knelt before this young child and gave gifts that represented more then time allows to expound upon

 His Epiphany into our lives, demands a change, when the Lord is revealed to us,  that is, when we have

an Epiphany , when He manifest Himself  to us, when we are called, are willing to make any journey that we are  calls to make no matter what the distance , are we willing to lay our lives at His feet?

No distance was too far to journey to find Him, the Magi saw his star in the east and came to where He was. Because He came to where we are.

 All Things at His Feet

None of us, who truly encounter Jesus, can remain the same-,the One who has changed all things

forever calls out to us ,  we need to forsake the old life and follow Him.  If you are searching for meaning in life, then come to Bethlehem you will find our Lord is there.

There are many who hear the invitation to come to Christ, many to whom He has been manifested,

they metaphorically “see His star” and they now realize that He is present, but they  hesitate.

Do we see “His star over an house”, that is where is He working, do we worship?

Do we acknowledge His rightful place?

His Epiphany Our New Life

When Jesus is manifest to us we have a chance to experience   new life, which demands changes within us…an all  new life in Him.

His Glory-

Our God, in Jesus, is always manifesting Himself to us from Genesis to the nativity, or that Sunday Morning to the “Lord’s Day” in 90;s AD on the pathos to John-to us here today.

As we come to know Him when He is manifest daily among us and to us we should be

 transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit , to be growing in the likeness of the Son of God.

Every time we gaze upon Him, come into His presences,  we are transformed.

When His Glory manifest- He calls upon us to to come to Him and  ,  to lay all things before Him, as did the Magi two thousand  years ago. It will be worth the journey Amen.

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 AM in Washington, Pa.and 1710 AM in Bentleyville , Pa. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com 

A Place Fit for Animals

 Have You Ever Considered Why Jesus Was Born In A Barn, A Place Fit Only For Animals?

When the Great God sent His Son Jesus Christ, He did not send Him into a place of comfort  and and opulence. He was not delivered into the stream of Human History in great a palace with attendants on hand or the blowing of royal trumpets to herald Jesus' entrance .  Instead He came into a place that stunk of dung and old straw, and animals. An out of the way place and unexpected place , yet this is to where Son of God met humanity, in a barn, a place fit only for animals!

He could have come in better surroundings but did not.

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" : Luke:2:6-7

What does this tell us about the God who speaks to us all through the pages of the Holy Bible?  Think about what is He saying to us?..Jesus does not just tell us about God , He shows us about God. Why come here in such a place? A stable?

Our Condition

This place that Jesus meets us in, is the condition of us all, that is our lives with out Him is a place fit only for animals. That is what sin is,a dirty place that smells of dung. But none the less Jesus meets us there in such a place. A place we thought we might never see Him.

Consider that He Who created all things  loved and wanted you, all of  us, so much He came to this.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.The same was in the beginning with God .All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made 

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John:1:1;14

He came to us, He did not stand afar off in the  of Heavens, isolated from humanity in a pure and Holy environment, no, He came to us in the midst of all this that we encounter. Our brokenness and weakness, and sin. he came to be with us so we might be with Him. He became one of us in the Incarnation.He is God in the flesh.

Relationship

" Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased." Hebrews:10:5-6

When Jesus took on our humanity, He did not come to bring a "religion" , that is,  "sacrifice and offering",

He wanted a relationship, that is why He came to retrieve and assume  our humanity into Himself. His humanity makes a relationship possible. Jesus' humanity is every bit as important as His deity.

Jesus Understands Us

Hebrews 5, speaks of the need for the High Priest of Israel being one who is "from among the people",

this was so that priest could understand the people whom he represented. How much more  is Jesus able.

"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered" Hebrews:5:7-8

The Prophet Isaiah looked ahead to Jesus at His coming and wrote of the experience that He would have here in the stable of this world as one of us

 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Isaiah:53:3

When we enter into the problems of life, we can know that He shares them with us. And there in the midst of them He is there to meet us. We may have never thought we could encounter Him in such places, but there He is right there in that place that smells of dung right with us.  Yet, we have assurances that  Jesus knows what we face. He's been here Himself.
 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews:4:14-16

He understands our temptations that would lead us into the dark dung strewed places of the stable of our lives, yet, He did what none of us could have done, He remained sinless, untainted by it yet knows it  fully, tempted but no sin. He meets us in the dark places of our being and calls us to Himself and assures us of His love. He will not abandon us in that place fit only for animals, but we will not always dwell in such a place,  but Jesus has come to us that we might come to Him...Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 AM in Washington, Pa.and 1710 AM in Bentleyville , Pa. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com 

The Beast

Of all the images found in Scripture one of the most recognized is that of the Beast, found in the Apocalyptic book of Revelation chapter 13 written by the Apostle John just about 90-95-AD.

Even non Christian have at some time heard this ominous prophecy spoken or have read it for them selves.
  And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?” Revelation:13:1-5


Many, not all, but many Christian see this image as the final manifestation of the world system in the years just before our lord Jesus Christ descends from the Heavens to bring the rule of the Great God over all things, and to be sure it speaks to that, but I wanted to look at this a bit different than most of us have ever looked at it before, a way which shows us the depth of the word of the great God.

Who Will You Worship?

At the time John was inspired and wrote the Book of Revelation what was happening in the world, in-particular the Roman Empire? Well, Cesar Domitian had declared himself to be the earthly embodiment of the sun god Apollo and was demanding worship and veneration, not just as the embodiment of the empire , but as being a god himself. Worship was compulsory and many Christian, and Jews were facing the prospect of either worshiping Cesar or forfeiting their well being. So the historical back drop of the Book of Revelation is the one great question that all of us must answer, "who will you worship?"  Christ Jesus, the King of the Kingdom of God or Cesar the Emperor  of the world system?...Who will you worship?who will I worship? Who will we call Lord, Cesar the head of the "World System" or Christ the Head of the Kingdom of God,  that is the question put to all humanity. This is the question that the Book of Revelation asks all of us.

Rome

At the time John wrote ,the world system found manifestation in Rome; now what was Rome? It was an empire building entity that amassed territory for the purpose of gaining control over the lives of people under the pretense of being a benefactor to those whom it ruled. It claimed it had the answers, as the world system always does regardless as to where or when it appeasers. In short, it claims Messianic status.This is what the Holy Spirit of God is telling us:

"One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast." Revelation:13:3

The fatal wound is a parody of the resurrection, that is only the Messiah Jesus, has ever been truly been resurrected  showing all that He is the Messiah. He alone has the right to claim this place, but we see here the Beast claiming it for its self. Now we see here the world system in the form, of Rome as presenting it's self as a benefactor to those they wished to rule. One of the means by which Rome gained control was through the promises of economic gain and through this gain they would have "Peace and Safety" ...This was a motto inscribed on some Roman coinage.
"For when they will say, Peace and Safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." 1Thessalonians:5:3

This is a warning not to buy into the promise of any that claimed to be able to bring fulfillment that which only our Lord can give us,no matter how sure it appears.

Out of the Sea

It has long been interpreted that the sea is a reference to Roman being a Mediterranean power, which it was, and used the sea as it's life blood for commerce and transportation which gave it control over lives and expansion of  its power, but look again at it this way, in Hebrew cosmology , that is, the way the Hebrew cultural mind viewed the order of things , there were two places that demonic powers could be encountered, either on bodies of water, like  that of  the sea and in the wilderness, like the desert. So is John telling us that the world system is of demonic origin?...That is, anything that climes the title of Messiah for its self is demonic and its real goal is control and power over your life.

. "And I saw a beast coming out of the sea."

"The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority."Revelation:13:1, 2

This tells us that when we we worship anything other then the God of the Bible we are worshiping Satan by proxy. It also shows us that a nation, a people or a person  will resemble the "god" that they worship. The world system looks like Satan.

It is also viewed that the Beast will be a political power that arises at the close of human civilization that will control and regulate much of the society in years to come that will, like Roman ,present its self as a benefactor, and those who go along will get along. Revelation:13:7-8 tells us that it will influence many.

Its Mark

As part of the control mechanism the Beast will Mark those who worship it, now, in the Roman empire slaves were branded with the mark of Rome, that is the seal of the empire.

The Greek word used for "mark" is charagma. It was the technical term for the Roman imperial stamp that appeared on various documents. The charagma was a seal stamped with the name and date of the emperor and attached to commercial documents. Apparently, it also stood for the emperor’s head stamped on coins. Thus, the charagma represented the likeness or name of the emperor.

The charagma was also a type of brand. In Roman times,  slaves were often branded with marks of ownership, much like cattle are today. Religious tattooing was also widespread. Soldiers had a custom of branding themselves with the name of a favorite general. Devotees of a "god" labeled themselves with tattoos to designate their loyal devotion. In short, Rome left its "mark" upon those within it, those whom it ruled.
Whatever this Mark maybe in the years to come Revelation cites that it is on the hand and forehead that it is seen. It show how they "buy and sell",  conduct business.

Second Beast

In Revelation:13:11-17, we are introduced to a second beast, this one emerges out of the "earth" . This second beast compels people of the earth to worship the first beast. Some Historians see this beast as to be a reference to the Imperial Cult of Rome that oversaw the worship of the Empire in the person of Cesar, others have speculated that this my be an apostate religious voice that compels humanity to give their worship to the beast, the world system  in the years to come at the close of human civilization, and  it may speak to that.
This second beast compels followers of the world system to receive the "mark". This beast looks like a Lamb but speaks as a dragon,  out of the "abundance heart the mouth speaks" . No matter how good it looks, the outward is only cosmetic.

In Our Daily Lives

Recall that the historical question that the Book of Revaluation is asking all of us."Who Will You Worship?"

I would like to ask you to consider what may be an important question about these verses. What do they say to us now, not historically or prophetically, but now today? It maybe that these verses speak to each of us now. Is there a "beast" ruling our lives,  anything is that building an empire over the territory of our lives? Is a something that claims to offer us what only Jesus truly can bring to us ? If we are looking to anything other than Jesus as our Messiah, it will  , like Rome,  build an empire in our lives that is gain greater control over our lives territories all under the pretense of being a benefactor promising us "peace and safety"   it will "mark" us as its slaves and will dictate how we handle our personal economies, that is ,how we "buy and sell", that is, how we spend our time energies and resources.  It will be upon our foreheads that is control of thinking which controls our actions and will be upon our hands, our thoughts and actions show whom we worship, remember a nation or a person looks like the "god" they worship, the world system resembles the dragon. When we look to the flesh or the world system, we are accepting its "mark", its "charagama" .We become its slaves branded by the Beast's  "mark".

The second beast emerges out of the earth , that is speaks out of the earthly, our carnal nature.

"But the natural man receive not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1Corinthians:2:14

This voice, out of the  earth of our lives,  tells us to look to the natural, to the material, to the gratification of the flesh, that makes great promises of fulfillment, but as always those things fall short,  which is what the beast is, the collective expression of the world attempting to look to something other than Jesus. It is this giving ear to that voice out of the earth which prophesies to the human hart which causes conflict in our lives as individuals and the world collectively.

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God." James:4:1-2

To Us Always

 Who will we worship? That is the great question we are being asked. Will it be Jesus the Christ King of the Kingdom of God or Cesar Emperor of  Rome, the World System?

This is not just for those in ages past or times yet to come, but for us now and every day. I pray that we all we answer Revelation's eternal question as to "who will we worship?" ,  that the voice our lives will proclaim  loudly,  Jesus, now and forever. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 AM in Washington, Pa.and 1710 AM in Bentleyville , Pa. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com 

At the Jordan the Heavens Opened

"And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him":Mark:1:10

At the Jordan

There upon the banks of the Jordan, the voice of John the Baptist was raised preparing the way for the public ministry that pointed Jesus out as "the Lamb which takes away the sin of the world" 
The preparatory work of John had great meaning, not just as to what he said, and did, but to the Jewish people there was great historical significance in their culture and in the Old Testament writing as to the place  where the Israel entered the Promised Land. It was here, that the Levite Priest with the Ark of the Covenant,  waded into that Jordan, and that the Lord God of Israel preformed the miracle parting of the Jordan opining the way to the land of Canaan so  that the people of Israel could walked through the parted waters of that Jordan into all that God had prepared for them.

"And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overflown all his banks all the time of harvest,)That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho" .Joshua:3:15-16

This was a fitting place, for John to minister for the introduction of our Lord Jesus to come forward into clear view. It was here that our Lord came forward  to be baptized.

John Baptist, a Leivite

John the Baptist  being a cousin of Jesus from Mary's "side of the family", was from a Priestly family, his father Zechariah  ministered in the Temple at Jerusalem

 "In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron."Luke:1:5

 "Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John." Luke:1:8-13

With the Ark

 The nation of Israel provided a national and cultural context into which humanities Savior would be introduced. Israel through the Inspired Prophets of God wrote of this Savior's coming. Now John the Baptist steps onto the stage of Israel's history, and ours', and announces the coming of the One that all humanity truly has sought.

It is here that Jesus steps forwarded into awareness of us all, the One whom John has been proclaiming now emerges.

"And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”Mark:1:5-8

Jesus then comes to John, there on the banks of that Jordan, Jesus whom is the very creator of all things the great God in the person of His Son, who is the very presence  of God arrives to be baptized- John steps into the water with Jesus even as those Levitical  priest did generations ago. Jesus Who is everything that the Ark of the Covenant was, and more,  is taken and plunged  into that Jordan, but this time it is not the river that parts, opening the way to the promised land , but there the very Heavens open, and the affirmation from above that this is the Son of God, who is that One who opens the Heavens to us all, who will but freely receive it.

Jesus, who is the true Joshua,stands with a Livitical Priest – in the Person of John, and this time it is not the Promise of an Earthly Promised land – that is limited to time and duration and conditions of the people of Israel’s fulfillment of those conditions – this time it is Eternal Promises that we are given through the very Son of God.  That when Jesus came up out of the water the Heavens parted , showing us that in Jesus the Heavens are now open to us- that we might be the recipients’ and participates in the Promises of God –

"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark:1:9-11

Yes In His Son

  In Jesus God has assured us that we are recipients of these Promise . God through grace extends  all the promises to us all through Jesus, and affirms that they are freely given by Him.

 "For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2Corinthians:1:19-22

 Yes is God’s answer,  that through Jesus,  He has brought us all to the River Jordan and God has through His own proclamation that Jesus is His Son has said yes to all humanity if they will freely accept it.
It is here, in His Son that God brings us all to open that life that is  found in Jesus-This life that has the Heavens opened to us –

This is about walking in the life that Jesus had – in deep Union with God the Father sharing in the life of Christ – Paul wrote of this life in Galatians- 

"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith of (in) the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians:2:19-20

By Jesus, we have been given a whole new life, one we could never have accomplished on our own. He did it for us if we will only receive it.Jesus had no doubts that He would save us, He had faith enough to save each and all of us.

He Is For All Humanity

In Jesus God has brought us to Himself.  He can do this because Jesus is Fully Human and yet Fully God – There is no diminishing or distortion of either – Jesus acts for us – and by doing so, we share in His life –

That moment at the Jordan points Him out as the One by Whom all is accomplished  , and there through the Proclamation of God declared to us  from Heavens and the lighting of the Holy Spirit  upon Him and the immersion of His body into the Jordan ,by all this  Jesus is shown to be the One that joins us to God and God to us , we are not only baptized into His life, but  He,  through the incarnation is baptized into our lives  and the Heavens are opened to us as they are to Jesus!

When Jesus came to the Jordan, He was acting out the process of Salvation, what God has done for Humanity-  bringing all humanity to a place of crossing over to a new life in Him.A life that changes us makes it possible for us to live a new way, a whole recapitulation of our lives – He has changed all things forever-

He brings us up out the grave of death- to live in and with Him-

 In Him

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" Colossians:31-4.

His baptism declares, that, Jesus  knows that God has done this for Humanity and provide salvation in Him. The salvation ,Jesus Had the Perfect faith to save us- in spite of our lack, our brokenness, our sins.

"For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" 2Corinthians:5:14-15

In Him we died and in Him we live. The old life of death is dead- that there is the new birth into life in Him for us all .

 Us in Him into the Heavens- 

But all these things are not just for "someday" in eternity, but even now we are accounted as being there in the Heavens.

"Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" Ephesians:1:3

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians:2:4-10

The Heavens have been opened to us- to live a new life – Not one in the Promised Land that Israel so earnestly sought , of only the physical blessings  that soon pass away, but rather the Land of Promises  of the Kingdom of God,  The life Eternal that never will pass away all through Jesus who is our life 

This life is ours' here and now and into the Eternity to come all by Jesus Christ the Son in whom God is well pleased..Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion

Washington, Pa 

Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP Radio 1710 & 1670 AM in Washington, Pa.and 1710 AM in Bentleyville , Pa. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com